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Coronavirus update for Acadiana-Lafayette: Five more deaths, but fewer cases Saturday

The Acadiana region reported five more deaths Saturday associated with the coronavirus, but reduced the total number of cases across the region when the Louisiana Department of Health released the counts.

According to Lafayette Consolidated Government spokesperson Jamie Angelle, the state Department of Health informed local officials that case counts in parishes across the region were being lowered as a result of duplications at commercial labs.

Louisiana reported nearly 2,200 more patients infected with the virus, for a total of 12,496. Another 39 deaths were reported Saturday, for a total of 409. The growth in the state numbers continues a trend projected by health officials.

Lafayette Parish reported two more deaths Saturday, as did St. Martin Parish. Acadia Parish reported another death, bringing the region's total to 17.

Official counts of COVID-19 cases in Acadiana reduced on Saturday

But the biggest change in the eight-parish Acadiana region occurred in reports of COVID-19 patients. The state health agency's official counts reduced reported cases Saturday in Acadiana by 76, for a total of 570 cases. On Friday, the health department reported 646 cases of the virus in Acadiana.

Six parishes in Acadiana saw decreases in their cumulative cases Saturday, and the changes were made without details explaining the adjustments in the data. Lafayette Consolidated Government posted the new numbers on its Facebook page at noon, but offered no explanation for the reduction.

Later Saturday, LCG spokesperson Angelle said in a release that officials were informed by the state Department of Health that "some parishes will see a decrease in numbers because there was some duplication of lab reports by commercial labs yesterday. Those duplications have been addressed and removed, and should not occur again."

"That’s all the information we were provided. If you have more questions about this please reach out to LDH," Angelle wrote.

Only Evangeline and St. Mary parishes showed an increase in COVID-19 cases Saturday, according to the state health department. Evangeline reported one more case, for a total of 19, while St. Mary reported 18 new cases, for a total of 65.